Monthly Archive for October, 2014

October 2014 IN THIS E-BULLETIN FORMER CIA ANALYST RAY MCGOVERN ARRESTED TRYING TO ATTEND PETRAEUS EVENT AUSTRALIAN PEACE ACTIVISTS DETAINED AND ASSAULTED FATHER AND DAUGHTER ARRESTED AT BEALE AIR FORCE BASE DRONE PROTEST TWELVE DAY PRISON TERM FOR FINE REFUSAL FROM JEJU ISLAND NAVAL BASE PROTEST FOUR GRANDMOTHERS FOUND GUILTY OF MOTHER’S DAY TRESPASS AT […]

Former CIA analyst and activist Ray McGovern was arrested [on October 30] as he attempted to attend an event in New York City featuring former CIA director and retired military general, David Petraeus. He was charged with resisting arrest, criminal trespass and disorderly conduct.

At 92nd Street Y, which describes itself as a “world-class cultural and community center,” Petraeus was to appear with John Nagl, who recently wrote a book, Knife Fights about being an army tank commander in the Gulf War of 1991. Neoconservative commentator Max Boot was to join them as well.

My Daughter and I Were Arrested Today By Military Police Guarding The World’s Most Hated Weapon

by Mauro Oliveira

10/28/2014

It was a familiar and warm exchange of greetings and spirited talk. The small group of activists I was with had called out to the military gate guards with a question concerning the spider web like substance that seemed to be everywhere around the base; on cars, vegetation telephone poles, fences, floating in the air and across the land. Men with sidearms and radios in camo fatigues approached us.

PLYMOUTH — It’s not safe to live on Cape Cod, according to an internationally known expert on the medical and environmental dangers of nuclear power.

During the final day of the trespassing trial of four anti-nuclear activists from the Cape, Dr. Helen Caldicott testified that it isn’t simply the potential for a major nuclear meltdown at the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station that should have people worried. Cancer-causing chemicals are constantly escaping from the reactor into the air and water, she said.

From left, Jim Hannah, Mark Bartholomew, and Henry Stoever crossing the line at NNSA plant.

Nuclear resisters go to court in Kansas City

by Jane Stoever

Two folks who crossed a forbidden line, all to say they oppose nuclear weapons, came to Municipal Court in Kansas City, Mo., for a hearing Oct. 21. Mark Bartholomew, of Holy Family Catholic Worker House, pleaded “guilty” of stepping across the line, and Judge Elena Franco sentenced him to 40 hours of community service and two years of probation. Henry Stoever, peace lawyer, pleaded “not guilty,” and Franco will try him for his resistance Friday, Dec. 19, at 1:30 p.m.

Sung-Hee (third from right) shortly before going to prison, with other members of the Gangjeong International Team

by Sung-Hee Choi

(Sorry for my hurried translation)

I, Sung-Hee Choi, enter 12 days’ prison as of today’s date, October 13, refusing to judicial oppression and enforcement of fines on me. (600,000 KRW, about $600 USD), even though I think that I am no-guilty. It is not because I agree with imprisonment but I intend to expose the coercion of the judicial oppression on the protesters against the Jeju naval base project through my unjust imprisonment.

A quick but comprehensive trial today in U.S. District Court in Baltimore, Maryland for three women who protested drone targeting at the National Security Agency at Ft Meade, Maryland, resulted in acquittal on one charge and conviction but low fines on the other two charges.

On October 7, 2014, Kathy Kelly and Georgia Walker appeared before Judge Matt Whitworth in Jefferson City, MO, federal court on a charge of criminal trespass to a military facility. The charge was based on their participation , at Whiteman Air Force Base, in a June 1st 2014 rally protesting drone warfare. Kelly and Walker attempted to deliver a loaf of bread and a letter to the Base Commander, encouraging him to stop cooperating with any further usage of unmanned aerial vehicles, (drones), for surveillance and attacks.

Before dawn on October 2, eight peace activists entered the top secret Swan Island military base near Queenscliff, Australia. The group entered in the early hours of the morning to nonviolently disrupt preparations for the imminent war in Iraq. Four of the activists were discovered, detained and assaulted by SAS soldiers on the base. The treatment of the activists by the SAS bordered on torture.

The experiences of the four were:
– Forcibly stripped naked, handcuffed, struck on the face and choked
– Activists’ clothing were cut off with knives
– Hessian bags were placed over their heads and they were told “welcome to the bag, motherfucker” and asked “do you want to go for a swim” before being dragged naked across the ground
– SAS personnel stood on activists’ heads and backs causing injury and said “If you move we will kick you in the face”
– Dragged and dropped on the ground when they didn’t respond to questions

Jack Gilroy, 79, of Endwell, New York was sentenced on October 1 to three months incarceration, three years probation, and $1,000 fine by DeWitt Town Court Judge Robert Jokl. He was taken into custody immediately.

“It’s time for our justice system to identify the real criminals… not those who carry the message to stop the killing to the gates of Hancock Air Base,” said Gilroy in his sentencing statement. Gilroy was convicted by a six-person jury on July 15th of trespass and obstructing government administration after two day’s of trial.